Tooth decay can torture you with so much pain that it prevents you from enjoying your favourite food and other daily activities. This prolonged condition will not only reduce your life quality but also lead to serious dental issues.
At this point, dental filling can be your savior. However, is it the ultimate cure for tooth decay?
1. What is tooth decay?
Tooth decay, or dental cavity, is a condition in which your tooth is damaged due to acids made by bacteria. Tooth decay is a common disease that can occur at any age. If left untreated, the cavity will enlarge and attack the deeper layers of the tooth. The main cause of caries comes from a diet rich in sugar and starch. Lazy and improper brushing also makes you more susceptible to tooth decay.
Common symptoms of tooth decay include:
- Toothache – either continuous pain keeping you awake, or occasional sharp pain without an obvious cause
- Tooth sensitivity – you may feel tenderness or pain when eating or drinking something hot, cold or sweet
- Grey, brown or black spots appearing on your teeth
- Bad breath
- Unpleasant taste in your mouth
2. Is cavity filling a cure for tooth decay?
A dental filling is an established dental technique. After cleaning and removing the decay, the doctor will use specialized medical materials such as: Amalgam, Silicate cement, Composite, etc. to fill the “hole” in the teeth.
This solution helps the patient regain chewing ability and aesthetics.
In particular, dental filling has a relatively cheap cost, ranging from 10 – 15 USD / tooth in Vietnam; therefore, it is suitable for many economic conditions. However, dental fillings are only applicable when the damages are still in the early stages, without attacking intensely into the pulp.
Once the cariosity leads to pulpitis, there’s a high chance that you will have to take root canal treatment, which will produce more physical suffer and higher cost will also be made.
In the worst case, when the teeth are too heavily damaged and it’s hard to save the natural teeth, doctors might suggest you take treatment with porcelain crowns. This is a technique in which the dentist uses a dental drill and an abrasive bur to remove the teeth’ outer surface. Then a crown will be installed to fit your tooth and bite properly.
Porcelain crowns improve the aesthetics of your teeth and help protect the real teeth inside from the effects of other diseases.
Thus, dental fillings are not an ultimate cure for caries, but an appropriate and economical solution when the cavity is not too big.
3. Things to know after dental fillings
After cavity filling, you should no longer feel pain. However, you need to pay attention to a few things to keep the filling for the longest:
Diet after dental fillings
With the blue light at the dentist’s office, the filling has been set, but it’s highly recommended that you choose a soft diet until the filling is completely solid (about 24 hours after returning from the dentist’s office).
As the fillings are not as strong as normal teeth, you should avoid hard food in the first few days. During this time, you can cut food into smaller pieces or chew on the other side of your mouth.
Dental care after filling
You should brush your teeth properly at least twice a day with a soft-bristle toothbrush. Also, pay attention to use toothpaste and mouthwash that contains fluoride of about 0.2% to serve your oral cleaning needs.
Don’t forget to have your teeth checked periodically, to always be in control of your oral health. If the filling is worn out, broken, you should visit the dentist to re-fill it as soon as possible.
We hope you have the answer to the question of “Can dental filling solve tooth decay” through this article. To know exactly the status of your caries and choose the right treatment for your condition, you need to go to reputable dental clinics for the doctor to examine and give advice directly.
At Navii Dental Care, you will be completely free of charge for general examination. We are always here to help you find the most effective and economical solution for your dental issues.
To book a schedule, please contact Hotline 024.3747.8292.
